Ditwah damage to upcountry railway track estimated at US $ 300Mn: Dy. Minister

By Shantha Chandrasiri

Colombo, June 16 (Daily Mirror) - The Department of Railways is hopeful that the restoration of the upcountry main line destroyed by the Ditwah cyclone could be completed by the end of this year.

During an inspection of the restoration work, Deputy Minister of Transport Dr. Prasanna Gunasena told the media on Sunday that the damage caused by the disaster to the upcountry railway had been estimated at US$ 300 million.

He pointed out that the damaged railway at several locations have been restored and that the railway lines from Peradeniya to Nawalapitiya and from Kotagala to Nanuoya are now being restored.

A senior official of the Department of Railways said repairs to the railway line from Nanuoya to Ambewela is nearing completion. He said the train service from Nawalapitiya to Hatton and from Ambewela to Badulla has resumed and that the train service from Badulla to Nanuoya would resume soon.